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Parallels Access 3.1 adds native iPad Pro resolution, Apple Pencil support, 3D Touch features, more

You may be familiar with Parallels for its virtual machine software that lets you run Windows alongside OS X on a Mac, but the company also offers a service and mobile app called Parallels Access that lets you remote into your Mac and Windows VM from other devices. Parallels Access for iOS is updating to version 3.1 today with enhancements for Apple’s latest iPhones and iPads plus new features for all users.

For starters, 12.9-inch iPad Pro users can now enjoy Parallels Access in fully native resolution so you can see more content and use the proper virtual keyboard when remoting into other machines. Prior to today’s update, the app would scale up from the version made for smaller iPads.

Parallels Access also features support for Apple Pencil for precision input on both the 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

When running Parallels Access on the iPad, you can target which resolution is best for you to work with as well: Best for iPad, More Space, and Same as Computer. Parallels says users will notice improvements to the experience when switching between resolutions too. There’s also a new trackpad trick with Parallels Access: Support for cursor movement using the onscreen keyboard as a trackpad.

Parallels has opted not to fully support Split View on the iPad Pro however, citing issues with lag when changing screen resolutions, but Slide Over works by letting you pull columned versions of apps over Parallels Access for quick use, just not side-by-side use.

And if you’re using an iPhone with 3D Touch, Apple’s pressure sensitive display input on iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, Parallels Access adds a new trick for mimicking mouse input: press to drag-and-drop or right-click. 

See the updated version of Paralles Access in action below:

Parallels Access requires an active subscription which starts at $19.99/year or $2.99/month, but you can start a free trial here. You can get Parallels Access 3.1 for iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad for free from the App Store.

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Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.